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Steelers Lead Redskins, 10-3, at Halftime

The Redskins have played six quarters of preseason football and they've yet to score a touchdown. They trailed 10-3 at half to the Steelers and failed to crack the 50-yard line in four second-quarter tries.

Entering the second half, the Redskins are the only team in the league that has yet to find the end zone.

Just two quarters into this one, the Redskins had already lost two important pieces of their backfield. Ladell Betts left the game in the first quarter, and the Redskins lost fullback Mike Sellers on their first full drive of the second.

Sellers was the lead blocker on a running play, and he lay on the ground for several minutes afterward, wincing in pain. He left the game with a right knee contusion, walking off the field on his own. As the half ended, Sellers walked off the field with a slight limp. We'll try to find more information on both injuries after the game.

The second quarter was mostly a battle between the two teams' punters -- until the Steelers mounted a late drive and Jeff Reed kicked a 34-yard field goal.

Jason Campbell left the game after three drives. His final numbers will be the subject of much talk-radio fodder next week: 1-of-7 for 10 yards. He never found his rhythm and some fans will surely wonder whether he might have benefited from another drive or two. It's worth mentioning: the early rain and wet field probably didn't help much.

The Redskins started their fourth drive with a mix of first- and second-stringers. Backup quarterback Todd Collins took over for Campbell. Marko Mitchell and Devin Thomas were the receivers, Marcus Mason took Clinton Portis' place in the backfield and Fred Davis, who had two fumbles a week ago at Baltimore, replaced Chris Cooley. Tackle Stephon Heyer replaced Chris Samuels on the left side and Jeremy Bridges took Heyer's spot on the right.

Starting the drive from their own 8-yard line, Collins & Co. got as far as their own 41-yard line but failed to convert on third-and-1.

A week after punting nine times, Hunter Smith launched four punts in the first half.
Mitchell, trying to make the team as a fifth receiver, had his first reception of the preseason, an 10-yard first-down grab.

On defense, the second string took over at the start of the quarter - except for first-round draft pick Brian Orakpo. Similar to the Ravens' game, Orakpo played the entire first half, again lining up both at end and linebacker. He had another strong game and pressured the Steelers' quarterback on at least three occasions. At the half, he led the Redskins with four tackles.

Collins finished the half 5-of-9 for 39 yards. He threw an interception in the closing seconds of the half. (As time expired, Reed attempted a 53-yard field goal and missed it. But Redskins safety Michael Grant was called offsides and Reed got another chance, a 48-yarder, which he also missed.)

Four Redskins hauled in a catch apiece in the first half - Cooley, Mitchell, Thomas and Mason -- and Malcolm Kelly had two.

I'm starting to think the game isn't long enough for that. Besides, this game is to evaluate younger guys and see who makes the roster.

Posted by: talent_evaluator | August 22, 2009 9:20 PM | Report abuse

That's true, and I would agree with you if this were a more seasoned, proven team. But I think the continued improvement of the first team is more important. They're going to make a difference this season, certainly moreso than the 52nd and 53rd guys on the roster.

The first team offense hasn't done enough yet this preseason to make anyone think they're playing well or that they have a good grasp of what they're doing out there. (That said, the offensive line looked really good tonight. Great protection for JC, which makes his passing performance even sadder. If the O-line picks up all those blitzes, someone has to be open, right?)

I think most people are simply expressing concerns they have with some players on the team. Nothing wrong with that. Isn't that what preseason is for anyway? You can't seriously watch Campbell tonight and think he played well or showed improvement from last week's performance. So, to me, that's disconcerting. That doesn't mean I'm going to say the season is over, and this team will win four games. Just means I was hoping JC would play better.

Most of what I've been reading tonight sounds like a bunch of pessimistic little girls have found they way over to Redskins Insider to miss and moan about Campbell, the '08 draft picks, or the coaching staff.

Campbell doesn't look good so far this preseason. Point taken and agreed, but anyone anointing Todd f'n Collins as the savior of the '09 season, mustn't have watched the playoff game in Seattle two years ago. There is a reason why Collins has been a career backup, but people seem to forget the fact that he has been his entire career.

I mean, on the last thread there was some idiot who referred to Haynesworth as the 100 million dollar man, and how he didn't see him sack the QB... Were they really serious with that bs! Anyone with half a damn brain knows that Haynesworth as a DT won't have that many sacks. He commands double teams, and still get pressure on the QB from time to time. Which is what the Redskins were missing for a long time.

It's nothing wrong with voicing concern. I'd admit that the 'Skins don't look too well -- hell they haven't looked consistently well in the a very long time. But I don't choose to doom and gloom all over the place like a lot of posters do up here.

It just seems like people want to be in b!tch and panic mode -- during the preseason! That's really baffles the hell outta me...

Some of you need to take a shot of your favorite "sauce" and calm the hell down.

Too many other things to get mad over other than the Washington Redskins performance in the damn preseason.

I'll save my rage for week one and beyond of the REGULAR SEASON. At least it'll count for something.

We've been missing that soooooooooo badly!!!!!! Just lob it up there and a big reciever gets up there! YESSSSSSSS we've been missing that so badly. that is exactly what we need. Marko just made the team!!!!!! no more teams in the nfl that hasn't scored a touchdown!!! When did we ever see that last year?

redDMV wrote,
Campbell doesn't look good so far this preseason. Point taken and agreed, but anyone anointing Todd f'n Collins as the savior of the '09 season, mustn't have watched the playoff game in Seattle two years ago. There is a reason why Collins has been a career backup, but people seem to forget the fact that he has been his entire career.
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REDDMV you must be Campbell's Mother..
The last time the Skins made the playoffs.. JC was also sitting on the bench in 2007.. In 2007 JC led the Skins to 4 straight losses until he was injured and Collins turned around the Season with 4 straight wins. With a higher rating than Brady.. Number one QB rating for December 2007 and NFL player of the month for the only 4 games he played!!!! We only lost the playoff game in Seattle because of the rookie Heyer starting on the OL and making an all-pro out of Patrick Kearney.
JC has never led the Skins to the playoffs. The best thing he ever did for the Skins was getting out of the way in 2007 so that Collins could get the job done.
Nothing personal against JC.. Its just irksome to see a player starting only because of the size of their Contract and the investment the team has made in him...(ie..3 picks traded away for JC, the 1st, 3rd and 4th).. NOT because of his skills. 31 other GMs know this and last winter declined any deal with Snyder that valued JC equal to or more than a 2nd round trade (according to NFL.Com).

JC has never led the Skins to the playoffs. The best thing he ever did for the Skins was getting out of the way in 2007 so that Collins could get the job done.
Nothing personal against JC.. Its just irksome to see a player starting only because of the size of their Contract and the investment the team has made in him...(ie..3 picks traded away for JC, the 1st, 3rd and 4th).. NOT because of his skills. 31 other GMs know this and last winter declined any deal with Snyder that valued JC equal to or more than a 2nd round trade (according to NFL.Com).

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM | August 22, 2009 9:57 PM

Saying JC never led the team to the playoofs ain't saying anything. In 2 years not many quarterbacks in history have. And if you're being honest, he won some of the games that got us to the playoffs. Seriously dude, think before you post. I'm not giving him a pass, he's suckin' but your arguments are extremely weak.

SkinsneedaGM, If I'm Campbell's mother then you must be f-ing Todd Collins.

If you read this blog and are familiar with the stance on various topics with the "full-time" bloggers here, you'd know that I'm not "Campbell's Mother".

In fact I beef with one blogger in particular on the play and potential of Jason Campbell.

Collins is a career backup -- do you understand this? Do you understand why he's been a career backup? Last season, the 'skins let him test the market, and you know what? NO ONE WANTED HIM! Why do you think that is?

And you want to talk about Collins back in '07? Here's how your boy did:

C/A: 29-50
YDS: 266
TD: 2
INT: 2

Not really an all-time performance at QB for the Redskins isn't it? And one of those INTs was a game killing pick, I might add.

But yeah go ahead and reference "The last four games" of TWO years ago if that drives home your point for Collins over Campbell.

Saying JC never led the team to the playoofs ain't saying anything. In 2 years not many quarterbacks in history have. And if you're being honest, he won some of the games that got us to the playoffs. Seriously dude, think before you post. I'm not giving him a pass, he's suckin' but your arguments are extremely weak.

Posted by: scampbell1975 |

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Scampbell1975
JC never contributed to the Redskins getting to the playoffs.. This is his fifth year with the Redskins..(Drafted in April 2005). He most certainly would of been the reason the Skins would not of made the playoffs in 2007.
Brunnell took the Skins to the playoffs in 2005 while JC ws on the bench..never played a game!! The next time the Skins made the playoffs.. JC had lost 4 straight games until he was injured and Collins turned around the Season with 4 straight wins....
Thankfully JC got out of the way in 2007 so that Collins could step in and play like a NFL QB. Able to go through his progressions and get to the second read, at least..

JC had lost 4 straight games until he was injured and Collins turned around the Season with 4 straight wins....
Thankfully JC got out of the way in 2007 so that Collins could step in and play like a NFL QB. Able to go through his progressions and get to the second read, at least..

Posted by: SkinsneedaGM | August 22, 2009 10:19 PM

Again you are neglecting the fact that it takes more than 4 wins to get to the playoffs. And JC had only played games in 2 years. You can taint things anyway you want but the fact remains that you are wrong.

Campbell had comparatively better protection than he had last year and looked absolutely ordinary. I don't know what his issues are, but he is certainly not showing us any reason to re-sign him for next year. I'm surprised at the offensive line being as decent as they are and it now is starting to scare me that Campbell is so glaringly weak.

Why is this town so defensive of Campbell? At his best he's average, at his worst he's horrible. Any other team in the league would have moved on by now. There's a reason no team would give up a no. 2 draft pick for Campbell.

Daniel, Brennan, Collins, whatever. One thing is for damn sure - it won't get any easier next week against the Pats. Campbell had better get the boogeymen out of his head and play like he's the starter. It gets real in just three weeks, and he ain't inspiring confidence at the moment.

Red DMV apparently missed the last FOUR games of the 2007 season where in the first of those FOUR games that got us into the playoffs, Todd Collins took the same team, the same sorry offensive line and the same fricking sad wide receiver corps that Jason Campbell had and scored 24 points in the second half vs. Campbell's pathetic ZERO point performance in the first half.

You may also recall Cooley missing a critical reception that would have changed the complexion of the game vs. Seattle in that stirring second half comeback led by Todd Collins.

If you again refer to the Seattle game of 2007, I will again refer to Todd Collins' GREAT LEADERSHIP of the Skins at the tail end of that season.